EDO4310 - Merchant's Garage, 45-47 High West Street, Dorchester; salvage recording 1983

During the redevelopment of this property on the north side of High West Street, in August 1983, a number of features were observed and recorded and some very limited excavation took place. The archaeological features indicated activity on site from later prehistoric times to the post-medieval period. The earliest feature observed was a possible Late Bronze Age or Iron Age boundary ditch which traversed the site diagonally WNW-ESE. The majority of the activity uncovered could be dated to the Roman period and three broad periods were defined. The earliest Roman activity has been tentatively dated to the first century AD and comprised several large pits and traces of one, or possibly two, rectangular timber beam-slot buildings with rammed chalk floors. Two hearths probably associated with metalworking may also belong to this period. In the second phase, the beam-slot buildings were replaced by another rectangular building with walls supported by upright posts in individual postholes or carried on drystone flint and limestone footings in the area disturbed by the earlier pits. Traces of mortar and chalk floors were found in this building. Three ovens or furnaces may have been associated with it. A 2nd –3rd century AD date is suggested for this phase of activity. In the subsequent phase, dated to the later 3rd century AD, there was a change in alignment of the buildings. Fragments of a large house with walls on mortared flint and limestone footings were found on the eastern side of the site aligned NE-SW. Traces of a mosaic floor were found in one room and fragments of both mortar and chalk floors were found elsewhere within the building. The earlier structures on the site were probably industrial buildings but the latest building appears to have been a large town house. The expansion of domestic buildings into this area of the Roman town can also be seen at Colliton Park, just to the north of the site. The early Roman industrial activity appeared to shift to the north in the 3rd century and has been investigated on the adjacent Library Site in Colliton Park. In the medieval and post-medieval period, evidence for activity is restricted to a small number of pits and two possible property boundaries. The street frontage was heavily disturbed by cellars (1).